Views on Professional Practice and Ethics

Background information is presented on the need for Rules of Professional Conduct or Code of Ethics or both. They provide the engineer with current information on the status of such rules and codes. The professional engineer shall: (1) Hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the public in the performance of his professional duties; (2) perform services only in the areas of his competence; (3) issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner; (4) act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agent or trustee and avoid conflicts of interest; and (5) avoid improper solicitation of clients to perform professional services. Interest, research and discussion of engineering ethics has mushroomed in the past few years, and, coupled with the general scepticism of the public as to the ethical behavior in the profession, it appears that formal and specific attention to ethics should be given in the engineering curricula. Professional Conduct and Ethics are the foundation on which a professional career should be built.